compile

verb

com·​pile kəm-ˈpī(-ə)l How to pronounce compile (audio)
compiled; compiling

transitive verb

1
: to compose out of materials from other documents
compile a statistical chart
2
: to collect and edit into a volume
compile a book of poems
3
: to build up gradually
compiled a record of four wins and two losses
4
: to run (something, such as a program) through a compiler

Examples of compile in a Sentence

He compiled a book of poems. She compiled a list of names. They took the best submissions and compiled them in a single issue of the magazine. We compiled our findings in the report.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In March, Miami-Dade County commissioners delayed choosing a site for an incinerator and approved compiling a report on a range of options for trash disposal, including zero-waste initiatives and landfilling. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2025 Before the attacks, Boelter compiled a list of mostly Democratic state lawmakers and their addresses, disguised his SUV to look like a police squad car, and purchased a silicone mask and a cache of weapons, according to the affidavit. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 27 June 2025 To compile this list of the best percale sheets, Kathleen spoke to Saana Baker, a textile expert in San Francisco, California. Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2025 The survey looked at a variety of factors including safety, affordability, and even the return rate of digital nomads to compile their list. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for compile

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French compiler, from Latin compilare to plunder

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of compile was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compile. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

compile

verb
com·​pile kəm-ˈpīl How to pronounce compile (audio)
compiled; compiling
1
: to collect into a volume or list
compile a book of poems
2
: to put together in a new form out of materials from other books or documents
compile a history of India
3
: to translate (as a computer program) with a compiler

More from Merriam-Webster on compile

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